The 160-acre land on the bank of the Turag river, the outskirts of the capital, is already full with thousands of devotees as the second phase of Biswa Ijtema begins today.
Police, Rapid Action Battalion and members of intelligence agencies, in uniform and plainclothes, have set up a multi-layer security system to avoid any untoward incident during the Ijtema, which is the second largest congregation of Muslims after the Hajj.
This is the fourth year that the Ijtema is being held in two phases on the banks of Turag, around 20km from the capital, to enable smooth management and security checks. The second phase will conclude on Sunday with final supplication – Akheri Munajat. The first phase of the Ijtema was held from January 24 to 26.
The devotees who reached the Ijtema ground on Thursday morning did not get any space under the main tent. They had set up arrangements of their own.
In the second phase, devotees will join the Ijtema from 33 districts of the country, especially from the southern region.
Abdul Baten, police super of Gazipur, told the Dhaka Tribune that no foreigner will join the second phase of the Ijtema, but some foreigners were still staying there and they would leave the area shortly.
The security system will be maintained as usual like the first phase.
Abul Kalam Azad, an organiser, said Maulana Abdul Wahab of Pakistan had started giving sermons after Maghrib prayers.
A mobile court realised Tk5,000 as fines from a hotel for selling unhygienic foods, said Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge of Tongi police station.
The first phase was participated by devotees from 32 districts of the country along with around 25,000 foreigners from 120 countries including, Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia and Palestine.
Tabligh Jamaat has been organising the annual congregation. The Ijtema features delivery of sermons on fundamental matters of Tabligh, prayers for spiritual adulation, exaltation and welfare of the Muslim Ummah, and recitation from the holy Quran and Hadith.
